DETROIT LIONS: Louis Delmas playing through constant knee pain

FILE - In this July 30, 2013 file photo, Detroit Lions free safety Louis Delmas runs with a ball at the teams NFL football practice facility in Allen Park, Mich. Delmas is back on the practice field, trying to move a step closer to playing an important role for a team that needs the banged-up leader to stay healthy. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

The Detroit Lions free safety has to save his gimpy knee for Sundays, the day of the week that trumps all the others.

Delmas’ impact in Sunday’s win over the Chicago Bears was noticeable particularly when he intercepted Jay Cutler twice. Both came on third-down plays.

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“His two interceptions get noticed, but I thought he had a couple of really good tackles too,” coach Jim Schwartz said on Monday. “That’s one of the things that’s one of Lou’s best assets is his ability to make open-field tackles. I think that comes from just being on the field more.”

His official statistical line read two interceptions, three pass defenses and two tackles. A good Sunday for a safety.

Getting Delmas back in the fold, he was an unrestricted free agent in March, certainly had its risks. General manager Martin Mayhew knew that and constructed his contract so the more he plays the more he makes. Mayhew’s goal was to have him ready to play in the season opener.

Delmas played in just eight games last season with the same knee issue. He has called it tendinitis. The pain in the left knee is just something he lives with.

When you look at last season, his first four games this season are more remarkable.

He has played in 100 percent of the defensive snaps in three games and missed just two snaps in the loss at Arizona.

That’s a tough task for an NFL safety with good knees.

Delmas is tough, no doubt about it.

It’s that toughness and passion for football that keeps him moving Monday-Saturday so he can earn his living on Sundays.

The first few games this season he wasn’t really a standout.

Still the Lions’ secondary and defense as a whole is better with that energy that Delmas brings to the field.

“I think he is getting back in the swing, even though he practiced during training camp he wasn’t a full participant in training camp,” Schwartz said. “We tried to be prudent with his training camp and the way we prepared him for this season. I think you’re starting to see him make plays.”

He’s getting on-the-field experience with teammates he hasn’t played or practiced with much including safety Glover Quin who also had an interception on Sunday.

“He’s got a new safety next to him. I like the dynamic between those two guys,” Schwartz said. “A nickel (Bill Bentley) that Lou really hadn’t played with before this year and one corner (Rashean Mathis) that he hadn’t played with either. I think that experience will certainly help there. Not meaning long term experience, but just experience with those guys on the field I think means a lot.”

Mathis went out with concussion symptoms on Sunday, missing the final three quarters. Cornerback Chris Houston left in the fourth quarter with a leg injury and couldn’t return. That’s when they Bears started getting back in the game.

But the defense was strong enough to hold onto the lead, take the win and boost the Lions’ record to 3-1.

Delmas, who was out there for every snap, was a big part of that.

(Follow @PaulaPasche on Twitter.com and Tout.com. Read her Lions Lowdown blog at oplions.blogspot.com. Join her weekly live chat at 3 p.m. Thursdays at TheOaklandPress.com.)